Overflow detector



- June 1l, 1935. c. A. FIEBERLJNG OVERFLOW DETECTOR Filled April 22, 193s Patented June 11, 1935 UNiTED vSTATES 2,004,502 oviJRrLow DETECTOR Charles A. Fieberling, Oakland, Calif., assigner of one-half to John H. Kimball, Berkeley,

Calif.

Application April 22, 1933, seria1No'.'667,400

f 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to -devices for indicating an abnormal condition in a body of liquid, such as a ow induced in'a normally static liquid by a leak or overilow from the source of The widest and most useful application of the invention, illustrated and described herein 'by way of example, is in connection With the flush tanks of toilets and the like. In such tanks, it is common practice'to provide an overow outlet, above the normal water level, which communicates with the main outlet below the'flushing valve, so that' when the water level rises, due to failure of the supply valve to close, fthe 151 excess water runs oif 'into theI` bowl and thence to the drain, withoutdamage except thatfinvolved in the consequent waste of water.

This waste of water from leaking toilets and other flushingapparatus is of seriousY consequence in regions where water'is scarce or eX- pensive, and causes considerable loss, in the aggregate, both to householders and building owners and tenants, and to water supply systems. The rate of ow of the individual leak is usually so small that it is not detected, but it is continuous and therefore results `in considerable waste of water before becomes known.

The principal object of the invention is to 30 provide a simple device which automatically indicates an abnormal condition in a body of liquid, such as a rise inlevel thereof or a ilow therefrom. This object is achieved by introducing into the body of liquid, upon the occurrence of the abnormal condition, a substance having noticeably different physical characteristics from those of the liquid itself, as, for example, a soluble or diffusible coloring matter or dye. When the device is applied to a toilet flush tank, the water therein is distinctively colored when it rises and overflows, this color passing down into and through the bowl, and being easily detectable therein.

A second object of the invention is to provide 45 a device for the above described purpose which can be manufactured and installed at such small expense as to make its use economical. The cost of the water wasted by a small leak, undetected even for a few days, will be greater than the cost of the detector.

It will be apparent that the invention may be embodied, without material change, in devices other than those herein shown and described, and applied to other types of liquid containing and using apparatus. It is to be unthe necessity for repair (o1. 11s-11s) derstood, therefore, that the form, construction and arrangement of the device may be varied, within the limits ofthe claims hereto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention as d ened therein. i f

Avv preferred embodiment ofthe invention, and a modication thereof, are illustrated in the 'accompanying drawing, in which: Y i

Figi is a partly broken perspectiveview of! a portionA of a toilet and its flush tank,v showing l the position. therein of a preferred formpf my detector.

Fig., 2 is a vertical section', on a larger scale, of aportion of the flush tank, showing my def tector applied directly to the overflow pipe. l5'

Fig; 3 isa perspective view of .the detector thimble. i y l Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionpsimilar to Fig. 2 showing a modifiedform of my detector...

In the drawing, the reference numeral B des ignates the lush tank of Ta toilet,. havingthe usual water inlet valve controlled by a float 'l to maintain the water at a constantlevel indicated at 8. The usual outletor flushingvalve, vnot shown, when opened, permitsthe Water to flow` through the outlet connection HlA into the )bowl lvl (Fig. 1). An overflow standpipeJZ is provided, ,having an open upper end above the lwater v level, and communicating at its lower end with the outlet connection I0, so that, if the inlet valve should fail to shut off, the Water in the tank will rise to the top of said standpipe I2' as indicated by the broken line 9 in Fig. 2, and then overflow freely through the connection lll into the'bowl. So much is common construction in 35 apparatus of this character.

My invention, in its simplest and preferred form, comprises a thimble I3 tted to the up` per end of the overflow pipe I2 above the normal water level 8, preferably by being slipped 40 into the end thereof, and having. upon its eX- posed or inner surface a coating lll containing some suitable water-soluble or diffusible coloring matter, preferably a blue dye. Therefore, when the water overflows into the pipe I2, it passes over the'coating Yof dye and is colored thereby, the colored water escaping into the boWl and appearing therein, thus giving a positive and automatic visual indication that an overiiow or leak is taking place. i

The thimble i3 is preferably made of springv brass, and is split, as shown at l5 inFig. 3, to enable it to grip the inside of the pipe I2. Its diameter is such that, when it is compressed within said pipe, the slit l5 is very nearly closed, 55

` so that the thimble forms a practically coner of suitable adhesive' binder, as shown in Figs. A

2 and 3. It is preferable to terminate the upper edge of the coating I4 somewhat below the* upper end of the thimble I3, as showninfligs.. 2 and 3, to provide the most evenv distribution of water over the surface of i said coating.

It will be observed that, 'in the* above described form, my invention is extremely simple,

cheap to manufacture, andjeasy'ptainstalland: replace when the coloring jmatter l:has been washed away by long continued use. j

.Anotherv form of the invention, suitablein cases which itV may `be desiredY or necessary to color the water within: the tank instead of only the escaping. stream, is; illustrated in Fig. 4. Inthis form of fthe invention, a suitable support is provided', as for example a clamp I1 encircling. the standpipe I2. An arm I8 extends upwardly therefrom, and. has pivotedy to. its bent endaq lever IB. .One end of said lever is connectedby a link 2B with a iioat 2l, and from other end is. suspended abody 22 carrying the "coloring Ymatter inV some suitable form. When the water` level risesto such a height 9 that it overflows the,` tappi the pipe I2, it lifts `the Hoat 2l,thereby lowering the coloring. body 22 intoV the water, as indicated in broken lines. Y

Thus vthe entire body of Water withinl the tank` is colored, `'aswell as the overflowing or escapi ing prtionthereoil I c It wilLbe obviousthat the Ythimble I3 shown in Figs..2 and 3-may be arranged to fit over the voutside of the overiiow pipe I2., in which case I claimzv K 1. An apparatus for the described purpose comprisingY a liquid container having an outlet, a removable member associated with Ysaid outlet, and' a body of normally dry coloring matter adhering to said member around the rim of said outlet, said coloring matter being diiiusible in said liquid, whereby said liquid is colored upon yflowing through said outlet.

2. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a liquid conducting pipe having an open end, and a thimble removably tted to said Yopen;eifrd',."'said` thimble carrying an annular body ofcoloring matter diiusible in said liquid,

Wlflereby*Yz said; liquid is colored upon flowing through said 3. An apparatus for the described purpose eomprisngiailirizidcontainer having an outlet,

`and abody of normally dry material positioned in close proximity to the rim of said outlet without ebstruetingfthe' reeaperture thereof, and normally out ocentactfw-itlsr saidi liquid, said materiaalv beingV diffused, insthevliquid when" said liquidilows over. said rim and. through saidi outilet, to Aimpart thereto a distinctive and discernible quality.: f r y Y voventlow attachment liora liquid `containing taille havingyani overowoutlet, comprising a thimble formed-iforremovable fittingf'to said outlet,-anda bodyY of diusibl'e material carriedby said thimble inapcsition; to be rdiffused intheI liquid. ilowing'througn said outlet without obstruction thereto, said material being. of a nature, to impart areadily discernible quality to rsaid liquid whenv diiiused. therein.

5. ,An overflowHindicatinggattachment tor a liquid containing `Vtank having angoverowoutle.t comprising ari annularmthimble. formed for removable ttingto-said outlet', one surface yci said thimble frictionally contacting, theV wall ci said outlet, andgallayer lc41fdiiiusible material adhering tof the: exposed `surface of4 said thimble in a position to be diffused inthe liquid. flowing through .said outlet, 'said materialbe-v ing of a natureV to impart a readily discernible quality to said liquid when. diffused therein.

'CHARLES A. Y 

